TALEQUAH, Okla. (AP) - The Cherokee Nation Supreme Court has dismissed two petitions that sought to invalidate the results of the election that appointed the tribe’s principal and deputy chiefs.
Justices heard arguments Monday in the complaints that claimed Principal Chief-Elect Chuck Hoskin Jr. and Deputy Chief-Elect Bryan Warner committed campaign finance violations.
The court unanimously dismissed the claims Wednesday, saying the complaints were not specific enough and should have been filed with the Cherokee Nation Election Commission before the June 1 election .
The justices found there was no evidence that the Hoskin-Warner campaign’s use of a professional campaign corporation, Cherokee Future, violated election laws.
The petitions were filed by Dick Lay, who won 27.95% of the vote in the principal chief race, and Meredith Frailey, who came a close second in the race for deputy.
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